I hope I don't regret this M4

tbarker13

tbarker13

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I admit I've been feeling lonely this past week with my M8 off for repairs. So I was trolling through ebay and came across an M4 that went up tonite for $685. Recent CLA. The only catch is that there is some decementing of the RF.

Here it is:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160250624392

I've been wanting another film M (sold all of mine when I bought the M8), so I took the plunge and hit the buy-it-now button. I guess i'm thinking that even if I need to get the thing fixed, I should be able to get that done for less than $300. That would put my price around $1,000. Not exactly a bargain, but not an awful price either.

Never even touched an M4 before. So if any of you guys see anything here that raises alarm bells, please speak up. Fortunately the guy is offering a refund if I don't like it.
 
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My old professor used an M4-P for years. The top was brassed to hell and the leather was wearing bad. But it was beautiful and worked flawless. And every Teaching Assistant he's had, including myself, he converted to Leica with that M4-P.
 
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Buying an M4

Buying an M4

Good luck with your ourchase. I've had an M4 for years- even dropped it onto a tiled restuarant floor in Paris and the RF continued to function perfectly.

I hope you love the thing as much as I do. I look forward to seeing the images you make with it.

My M4 images are found at this site.

Best wishes,

Gary Haigh
 
M4

M4

Sorry. Left off the link. I can't make it into a hyperlink.

Good luck with your purchase. I've had an M4 for years- even dropped it onto a tiled restuarant floor in Paris and the RF continued to function perfectly.

I hope you love the thing as much as I do. I look forward to seeing the images you make with it.

My M4 images are found at this site.

http://www.leicaboutique.com/gallery/gary haigh/index.html

Best wishes,

Gary Haigh
 
Congratulations. I don't see much of the decementing. The thin lines visible in the viewfinder won't have any effect on viewing. The camera looks like a wonderful user for a bargain price. The only thing missing is the red circular film indicator which you can get for cheap.
 
Great, this makes me feel much better about the purchase. I think I'm going to have to find a 50 rigid summicron to go with it.
 
You asked.
I would never purchase a Leica in that condition, a quick look showed dings and a quick read showed partial recovered body. By the time you fix what you know is worng and there is probably more than that wrong, you will spend more than for an almost Mint chrome M2 from a person that gave it care. I understand the reflex purchase but that is something one learns to deal with over time. Its always easy for others to spend your money as they will suffer no financial loss or aggravation but in this case get your money back if you can and if you want an M2, purchase one in Near Mint condition or at least one that has been taken care of. -Dick
 
RichardB said:
You asked.
I would never purchase a Leica in that condition, a quick look showed dings and a quick read showed partial recovered body. By the time you fix what you know is worng and there is probably more than that wrong, you will spend more than for an almost Mint chrome M2 from a person that gave it care. I understand the reflex purchase but that is something one learns to deal with over time. Its always easy for others to spend your money as they will suffer no financial loss or aggravation but in this case get your money back if you can and if you want an M2, purchase one in Near Mint condition or at least one that has been taken care of. -Dick
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The camera was recently CLA'd! Sure there are a couple of dings. It's not an exc+++ camera. That should have cost you twice that amount. OTOH, an exc+ M2 would cost more than the 675 US$ too.
 
Thanks for the opposing view Richard.
I've gone ahead and paid for the camera and will give it a spin before making any decisions.
I don't see the minor wear marks as any big deal. My cameras tend to look that way after a while anyway - this one will just get there faster. The replaced leatherette on the back also doesn't bother me. I had originally been shopping for an M3 or M2, thinking I would likely have to replace the leather completely.

From what I've seen, an M4 in really nice condition will sell for well over $1,000. KEH has an M4 in EX condition ([FONT=Helvetica,Verdana,Arial][SIZE=-1]Shows moderate wear. May have small dings, pecks and slight finish wear) for $1,269 right now.) Obviously I could probably get one a bit cheaper from the RF or L-Camera forums.
The way I see it - if my camera doesn't need to be fixed (the decementing), it'll be a very good deal. If I have to pay $250 to get that fixed, it's still a pretty fair deal.
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tbarker13 said:
an M4 that went up tonite for $685. Recent CLA. The only catch is that there is some decementing of the RF.

<snip>

I should be able to get that done for less than $300. That would put my price around $1,000. Not exactly a bargain, but not an awful price either.
Click to expand...

Eeek. Why not just get a good, clean, M2, for around the same, and you don't have to send it for a CLA and "suffer" withdrawal symptoms again.
 
Decementing? Hmmmm. My M4 was fixed by DAG for 'decementing'. Question is, where does the cement that was decemented fall?

Often it falls into the mechanics that change the framelines when lenses are swapped out. This has to fixed if you want to swap lenses. If you have only one lens usually you can wiggle things to get a full frame line to show up. I could get the 35 lines to work so I only shot a 35 until I could get it repaired.

Still, I like my M4 which I've had from new better than my M6.
CLA is a must with any camera that is well used or older so just roll with it. You'll be very happy I'm sure.
 
Dektol Dan said:
Decementing? Hmmmm. My M4 was fixed by DAG for 'decementing'. Question is, where does the cement that was decemented fall?

Often it falls into the mechanics that change the framelines when lenses are swapped out. This has to fixed if you want to swap lenses. If you have only one lens usually you can wiggle things to get a full frame line to show up. I could get the 35 lines to work so I only shot a 35 until I could get it repaired.
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That would be bothersome. This one supposedly doesn't have any issue like that. At least not yet. And maybe it never will. If it does, I'll get it repaired.


Why this camera? Well, i will admit that I've always wanted to try an M4. I've previously owned the M2, M3, M4-P and M6. I've heard so many good things about the M4 that it just seemed like a camera I'd like to experience.
 
HuubL said:
The camera was recently CLA'd! Sure there are a couple of dings. It's not an exc+++ camera. That should have cost you twice that amount. OTOH, an exc+ M2 would cost more than the 675 US$ too.
Click to expand...

I see no mention of who and when or a reciept for a CLA.
'Caveat Emptor' is my motto. The two dings above the afore mentioned window that decemented speak volumes as to the way the camera was treated and its present condition. It's not my money but I always purchase the best condition I can afford.EOT-Dick
 
Dektol Dan, why exactly do you prefer your M4 to an M6? Is the build quality noticeably better? I have an M6, which I really enjoy using, but now I've been bitten by the bug and am considering an M2 (or M4 now!).
 
The camera looks great. Not mint of course but a good user with typical wear but not abuse. I don't know about the
RichardB said:
The two dings above the afore mentioned window that decemented speak volumes as to the way the camera was treated and its present condition.
Click to expand...
, it doesn't speak volumes to me as they are just normal pecks that would not have any effect.

Its also good that a CLA has been done, don't know who did it, but you'll see how it works when its in your hands. I see they did install the felt dust strips on the sides of the film chamber which is good, so maybe a quality job.

As for separation in the finder, normally I would avoid any camera or lens that has a hint of this. Its not that the cement would be falling into the camera, usually the lens elements are just coming apart and the cement is not falling anywhere. But there is no telling how fast it will progress, a temperature change, or even a light knock can make it just happen quickly and you'll need to take care of it. Or it can just stay the way it is for a long time. Kind of a flip of the coin, but if you find you're happy with the camera over-all after you receive it and are willing to take the chance, go for it.

The M4 is my favorite Leica, the one I will always keep. I like the plastic tipped advance, the rewind, the quick load, and the finder is the best for various reasons.
 
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